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The city was ablaze.
Daphne led her remaining allies through the streets as they raced down the steps from Lowtown to the docks. The light feeling of using magic rushed through her body, fire exploding around surfacing shades. The group cleared the last few steps, entering a budding horde of shades.
“Stay close!” Daphne yelled, the others nodding as everything shattered into chaos. Spells from Daphne and Merrill’s staffs sliced through the air, spells flinging out from them. Blades whistled through the air as Aveline, Fenris, and Isabela carved their way through the group. The loud click and thunk as Varric fired Bianca, the bolts keeping the shades at a distance.
Under normal circumstances, they would have dispatched the shades in no time. These, unfortunately, were not normal circumstances. Shades seemed to spill out of every nook, cranny, and shadow. It felt like hours before the numbers visibly decreased. Daphne felt drained, vision blurring from casting so many spells. She staggered as another shade lunged at her, tensing in anticipation of a blow. A blow that never came. Persephone looked up, the shade crumbling to dust to reveal Carver.
“Need me to save you again, Daph?”
He was older, the baby fat gone from his face. Subtle stubble covered his face, with slight shadows beneath his eyes. He’d filled out in his time with the Wardens; he had more muscle and looked better fed than during their time living with Gamlen. He looked healthier, though tired. It hit Daphne all at once that her baby brother had grown up.
“Carver,” Daphne rushed forward, tackling her little brother in a hug. She sliced her staff through the air, knocking a wave of shades back in a fiery explosion.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you, I thought you were dead.”
“Takes more than this to put me down, if you haven’t noticed,” Daphne laughed, wiping her eyes as she let him go. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re the only family I have left, Daph. I’m here to stand by you, if you’ll let me join you.”
“What about the Wardens? I don’t want you to get in trouble—”
“Daph. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you taking me to them. It doesn’t matter what they think, I’m here for you,” Carver said. Daphne sniffled, wiping her eyes again.
“Well then, I can’t really tell you no,” she said.
“Hey Junior,” Varric said, slinging Bianca back over his shoulder.
“Varric.”
“Your family has convenient timing, Hawke,” Isbela said, handing Merrill a bottle of lyrium.
“We do our best,” Daphne said, pulling herself together a little. Carver’s going to be coming with us. Come on, we need to get to the Gallows.”
The others started down the street, but Daphne grabbed Carver’s wrist before he could join them. Pushing herself up on her toes, she gave him a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Stay alive, Carver. Or I’ll drag your soul back so I can kill you again.”
“Of course, Daph.”
Daphne nodded, taking a deep breath. With a tilt of her head down the street, the siblings took off, side by side.